Venturi Additive Dispensing for Self-Cleaning Washing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine dispensing systems rely on pumps, which are expensive and energy-consuming, prone to clogging, and require manual tank removal for cleaning, leading to debris accumulation and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system utilizing a Venturi component that creates a vacuum to draw additives from a tank and mix them with water, eliminating the need for pumps and allowing for self-cleaning without tank removal, using a processor-controlled valve system to manage water flow and cleaning cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a pump is used to dispense additive, then the dispensing function is achieved, but the system becomes expensive and energy-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pump system with a Venturi-based fluid dynamic system. Water flow through the Venturi component creates a vacuum that draws additive from the tank, eliminating the need for a mechanical pump and reducing energy consumption while maintaining the dispensing function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by utilizing water flow through the Venturi component to create a vacuum pressure differential. This pneumatic-hydraulic mechanism draws additive from the tank and mixes it with water, achieving dispensing without mechanical moving parts
2Reliability
If a pump is used to dispense additive, then the dispensing function is achieved, but clogging problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the mechanical pump with a Venturi-based system, there are no mechanical moving parts, seals, or impellers that can clog. The additive is drawn through a vacuum created by water flow, eliminating clogging issues associated with mechanical pump components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the additive drawing function from the mechanical pump and implements it separately through the Venturi vacuum mechanism. This separation removes the clogging-prone mechanical components while retaining the essential dispensing function
3Reliability
If the dispensing tube carries additive alone, then the dispensing function is maintained, but the tube develops sticking and becomes clogged over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary cleaning action by continuously or periodically flushing the additive tank and dispensing pathways with water. This prevents additive accumulation and sticking before clogging occurs, maintaining tube reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous water flow through the Venturi component, which continuously cleans the dispensing pathways and prevents additive accumulation. This continuous action eliminates the sticking and clogging problems that occur with intermittent pump-based systems
4Ease of manufacture
If the user is required to remove the tank for cleaning, then cleaning can be performed, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-cleaning functionality where water automatically flushes the additive tank and dispensing pathways through the Venturi system. This eliminates the need for manual tank removal and cleaning, making maintenance simple and convenient
Solution Approach 2:
The water inlet system serves multiple functions: it provides water for the washing machine operation and simultaneously provides cleaning water for the additive tank and dispensing pathways. This multi-functionality simplifies the cleaning process without requiring additional systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The Venturi-based system reduces energy consumption, minimizes clogging issues, and enables automatic self-cleaning, improving operational efficiency and user convenience by eliminating the need for manual tank maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a Venturi component, wherein the Venturi component comprises a hole connecting to a water inlet, a hole connecting to the additive tank, and a hole connecting to the clothes basket; water flows through the water inlet hole, creating a vacuum in the additive inlet hole, resulting in suction of additive from the additive tank which mixes with the water
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided herein. The apparatus includes, a clothes basket rotatable about an axis, a motor coupled to the clothes basket, an additive tank, a Venturi component comprising a hole connecting to a water inlet, a hole connecting to the additive tank, and a hole connecting to the clothes basket, a first valve, a second valve, and a processor coupled to the first valve and the second valve, the processor being operative to carry out a dispensing phase of the apparatus, wherein the dispensing phase comprises dispensing additive to the clothes basket, and carry out a self-cleaning phase of the apparatus, wherein the self-cleaning phase comprises washing the additive tank.